Incus Replacement Partial Ossicular Replacement Prosthesis

Abstract

An ossicular prosthesis is described which includes an elongated prosthesis member formed from a single foldable plane structure and having a proximal end and a distal end. A cochlear striker surface is located at the distal end of the prosthesis member for engaging an outer cochlear surface of a recipient patient. A transducer clamp is at the proximal end of the prosthesis member and includes multiple clamping fingers for securely engaging the outer surface of an enclosed acoustic signal transducer such that acoustic vibration of the signal transducer is coupled by the prosthesis member to the cochlear surface

1 . A middle ear prosthesis comprising:
 an elongated prosthesis member formed from a single foldable plane structure and having a proximal end and a distal end;   a cochlear striker surface at the distal end of the prosthesis member for engaging an outer cochlear surface of a recipient patient; and   a transducer clamp at the proximal end of the prosthesis member including a plurality of clamping fingers for securely engaging the outer surface of an enclosed acoustic signal transducer such that acoustic vibration of the signal transducer is coupled by the prosthesis member to the cochlear surface.   
     
     
         2 . A middle ear prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein the cochlear surface includes the round window membrane of the cochlea. 
     
     
         3 . A middle ear prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein the cochlear surface includes the oval window membrane of the cochlea. 
     
     
         4 . A middle ear prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein the prosthesis member is made of titanium. 
     
     
         5 . A middle ear prosthesis according to  claim 1 , wherein the prosthesis member further comprises:
 a locking clamp having:
 i. a clamp strap having a fixed end and a free end, and 
 ii. a locking head at the fixed end of the clamp strap and having a strap opening for insertion of the free end of the clamp strap; 
 wherein the clamp strap passes around an ossicle of the middle ear in a closed loop and is fixedly engaged by the locking head for fixedly attaching the prosthesis to the ossicle.